Israel urged civilians in southern Beirut to evacuate on Friday morning. And about an hour later, the bombs came.
"The battle plan struck the Hadath neighborhood in the southern suburbs," writes the state-run Lebanese news agency NNA.
Earlier, Israel's military was also reported to have shelled several communities in southern Lebanon. Schools have been closed in Nabatieh and in the ancient coastal city of Tyr.
Netanyahu Threatens
The attacks came after accusations that the Lebanese Shia militia Hezbollah had fired rockets at Israel.
We will continue to maintain the ceasefire with strength and strike everywhere in Lebanon against all threats to the state of Israel, says Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement.
The equation has changed, the situation as it was on October 7 (2023) will not come back. We will not allow any shelling against our communities, he continues, adding that all Israeli citizens in the northern part of the country must be able to return safely to their homes.
Hezbollah Denies
Hezbollah, however, denies that the movement has attacked Israel. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam calls it "irresponsible rocket fire that threatens Lebanon's stability and security", and he urges the military to apprehend those responsible.
Friday's attack shakes the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hezbollah in November last year. Since then, recurring smaller attacks have been carried out, mainly from Israel's side.
Last weekend, at least eight people were killed in Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon, which constituted the largest escalation since the ceasefire came into place.
